Part 107 (1/2)
1838: August 29.
To house and ground, rent at 5s. per week, from 1st August to date 4_l._ 0 0 [A]Alliac Davis, ground rent at 10d. per week 3 0 [A]William Davis; ditto ditto 0 3 4 ------------- 4_l._ 6 4 -------------
Thos. Tats, Esq. is Attorney, and Mr. Comry Overseer,
[Footnote A: Boys from 9 to 11, her sons.]
Louisa Patter, to Retrieve Estate, Dr.
1838: Aug. 28.
To house and ground from 1st Aug. to date 1_l._ 0 0
She states she has been sickly so long, that she has no ground in cultivation, and cannot help herself, and has only what yams her friends give her.
Susan James, to Albany Estate, Dr.
1838: Aug. 28.
To house and ground rent at 5s. per week, from 1st August, to date 1l. 0 0 Thos. Hewett, ground rent 0 13 4 Elizabeth James, ditto 0 13 4 Mary Dunn, ditto 0 10 0 Let.i.tia, ditto[A] 0 6 8 ------------- 3l. 3 4 -------------
[Footnote A: These are a mother and four children in one house, and with but one ground, they tell me.]
Richard Warren, to Albany Estate, Dr.
1838: Aug. 28.
To house and ground rent to date 1l. 0 0 Wife 0 15 4 Child[B] 0 10 0 ------------- 2l. 5 4 -------------
[Footnote B: The child is quite young, and in daily attendance at one of my schools.]
On this property, under the same managers as Retrieve, the people state that they are going on shamefully. ”The last Sabbath but one, when we were at service, Stephen Campbell, the book-keeper, and Edward Pulsey, old-time constable, come round and mark all for we house, and charge for ebery one of we family. We don't know what kind of fee dis we hab at all; for we attorney, Mr. Tate, neber come on we property, leave all to Mr. Comeoy. We peak to him for make bargain, him say him can't make law, and him no make bargain till him heare what law come out in packet. Him say dem who make bargain are fools; beside him no call up a parcel of n.i.g.g.e.rs to hold service wid me; should only get laughed at. So we know not what for do. You are for we minister, and for we only friend; and if you did not advise we to go on work till things settle down, we no lift another hoe. We would left the property.” Unless an arrangement is soon entered into, I shall advise them to do so.
James Greenheld, to New Galloway Estate, Dr.
To one week's rent of house, garden, and ground, and to 5 ditto for his wife, Margaret Greenfield, at 5s. per week. 1 10 0
J.G. states, ”I come for ma.s.sa. When we make bargain with Mr. McNeal, it was a maccaroni (1s. 8d.) a day, and for we house and ground. Me is able and willing for work, so let my wife stop home; so him charge me de same sum for my wife, as for me own house and ground. And den last week me sick and get no money, and they charge me over again, (as above) one week me sick. Me no able for say what to call dat ma.s.sa, me sure.”
I leave with you to make your own comments, and to do what you please with the above. Although my chapel is 700 in debt, and my schools, one of 180 and one of 160 scholars, are heavy, very heavy on me, I cannot do other than advise my people to save every mite, buy an acre of land, and by that means be independent, and job about wherever they may be wanted.
FROM THE REV. T. BURCh.e.l.l.
_Montego Bay, October_ 2, 1838.
The reason why I have not written to you so long, is the intensely anxious time we have had. I feel, however, that it is high time now to address you; for, if our friends in England relax their efforts, my conviction is, that freedom will be more in name than in reality, in this slave-holding Island. There is nothing to be feared, if the n.o.ble band of friends who have so long and so successfully struggled, will but continue their a.s.sistance a short time longer. The planters have made a desperate struggle, and so, I have no doubt, will the House of a.s.sembly, against the emanc.i.p.ated negroes. My firm conviction has been, and still is, that the planters have endeavored, by the offer of the most paltry wages, to reduce the condition of the laborer, and make him as badly off as he was when an apprentice or a slave, that he may curse the day that made him free.
Though unable to conduct the usual services on Sunday the 5th August, at the close I addressed the congregation, urging upon them the necessity of commencing their work on the following day, whether arrangements were made between themselves and their masters or not; as by so doing they would put it out of the power of their opponents to say anything evil of them. They a.s.sembled, and on Monday the 6th thousands turned out to work, and continued to labor, unless prevented by the Manager, until arrangements were made.
You will remember, that prior to the 1st of August, a white man who hired out a gang of apprentices to an estate was paid at the rate of 1s.
6d. sterling per diem for each able laborer. The apprentice received the same when he worked for the estate on his own days, Friday and Sat.u.r.day; and whenever they were valued for the purpose of purchasing the remaining time of their apprentices.h.i.+p, the planter upon oath stated that their services were worth at least 1s. 6. per diem to the estate, and the apprentice had to redeem himself at that rate.
After the 1st of August, the planters discovered, that, whilst the properties would well afford to continue the lavish and extravagant expenditure in managing the estates, ”it would be certain ruin to the properties, if the labourer was paid more than 71/2d. per diem. for the 1st cla.s.s of labourers, 6d. the 2nd cla.s.s, and 41/2d. for the 3rd cla.s.s:” and why? I know not why, unless it was because the long oppressed negro was to put the money into his own pocket, and not his white oppressors. This seems to have made all the difference. The above wages were accordingly offered, and rejected with scorn; the people feeling the greatest indignation at the atrocious attempt of their old oppressors to grind them down now they are free, and keep them in a state of degradation. The greatest confusion and disorder ensued; the labourers indignant at the conduct of their masters, and the planters enraged against the people, for presuming to think and act for themselves. As a matter of course, the fury of the planters was directed against half a dozen Baptist missionaries, and as many more friends and stipendiary Magistrates; and I can a.s.sure you that the Jamaica press equalled its most vituperative days, and came forth worthy of itself.